The avenues for raising school district revenue for capital projects are mostly dead-end these days, except for the recallable nickel tax – which is why more districts are investigating this route. It’s not easy overcoming knee-jerk opposition to any tax, but find out how some school districts have managed it.

Not every board that approves a recallable nickel tax meets with opposition strong enough to force a referendum. Raceland-Worthington Independent leaders were able to build trust for the nickel with a previous tax vote.

When it comes to campaigning, school districts have a built-in advantage they can tap into: their teachers and other employees.

Ready for work
Highs schools will benefit from the partnerships that have been produced by the state’s new Work Ready Skills Initiative and its initial grant awards. Some school systems have even been the lead partners in those projects (which also are the focus of this month’s In Conversation With).

Updating the update
This will be the 11th year that KSBA has held its Federal & State Law Update following a session of the General Assembly. While the name has not changed, the training now has a sharper focus for school board members.

App-y talk
It’s the new face of school communications: an app that lets districts and schools communicate instantly with parents and students. And it also acts as a compact version of the resources found on their websites. Find out how some districts are using this tool.

Training to maximize the bottom line, ensure medical services to students

Through KSBA’s School-Based Health Service, participating districts annually net a reimbursement return of more than $10 million. But schools don’t get repaid for services to students if those therapeutic treatments aren’t properly billed to Medicaid. That’s why program coordinator Barbara Tumolo-Wash conducted more than 50 training events for school staff in the first three months of 2017.

Audri Thomas, a student at the Thelma B. Johnson Early Learning Center in Henderson County, shows off the T-shirt supporters wore during the district’s nickel tax referendum campaign. The theme was “Investing in Excellence.” Leaders in Henderson County and other districts share tips about how they were able to win nickel tax referendums in this special report. (Student photo courtesy of Henderson County Schools)